A middle-grade novel that follows the story of Sophie, a young girl who, after a shipwreck, is found floating in a cello case by a man named Charles Maxim. Charles, an unconventional guardian, takes Sophie in and raises her in Paris, where they form a close bond. As Sophie grows, she becomes fascinated with the rooftops of Paris and dreams of exploring them. She feels a deep connection to her mother, who was lost during the shipwreck, and believes that her mother might still be alive. Driven by this hope, Sophie embarks on a daring quest to uncover the truth about her mother. One day, Sophie discovers a group of orphaned children who live on the rooftops, known as the "rooftoppers." They are led by a boy named Matthew, who helps Sophie navigate the challenges of rooftop living. Together, they explore the heights of the city and delve into its secrets, uncovering the beauty and magic of Paris from above. The story is filled with themes of resilience, friendship, and the search for identity and belonging, celebrating the power of dreams and the bonds of family. The enchanting setting and the vivid imagery of Paris rooftops make it a captivating read for children and adults alike.

 

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards

This book has been graded for interest at 9-11 years.

There are 288 pages in this book. This book was published in 2020 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC .

Katherine Rundell was born in 1987 and grew up in Africa and Europe. In 2008 she was elected a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. Her first book, The Girl Savage, was born of her love of Zimbabwe and her own childhood there; her second, Rooftoppers, was inspired by summers working in Paris and by night-time trespassing on the rooftops of Oxford colleges. She is currently working on her doctorate alongisde an adult novel.